Improved car-coupling



C D. CLINTON. Car Coupling.

No. 56,371. Patentedduly 17, 1866.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. CLINTON, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED CAR-COUPLING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,371, dated July 17, 1866.

exact description of the nature, construction,

and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which is made a part of this specification, and which represents a vertical longitudinal section of a carcoupling illustrating my invention.

This invention consists in a novel method of combining a pivoted hook or drop-catch and spring with the draw-head of a railroad-car, whereby the link is adapted to automatically enter the draw-head and be caught and held therein, so as to effect the coupling without the necessity of exposing the person to the danger of being caught and crushed between the two approaching cars.

The following description, in detail, will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand and use the same.

In the accompanying drawings, A may represent the draw-head, which is made in customary manner, save that instead of a vertical pin-hole it has in its upper side a longitudinal slot, at, to permit the vertical movement of the hook or drop-catch B. This hook is pivoted at b, and is free to vibrate upon its pivot, so as to rise and permit the link D to enter and then fall to catch the link, and thus couple the two adjoining cars. To this end the front of the hook B is formed with the bevel or incline 1), against which the link moves as it raises the hook. The latter is also formed with the shoulder b which drops in front of and detains the link within the draw head. This shoulder may be at a right or an acute angle with the body of the hook B, as may be desired.

The hook B, pivoted near its rear end and constructed as above described, will make an automatic coupling for the hook, will rise against the pressure of the entering link, and fall by gravitation to detain the same; but under the various in1pulses-rising, falling, and jarring motions-to which the cars are subjected, the

hook B is liable to be thrown upward, release the link, and thus allow the cars to uncouple while the train is in motion. To overcome this objection I employ a spring, 0, which is made fast to the draw-head near the pivoted point of the hook B, and bears down upon the forward end of the latter. The force of the spring C is easily overcome by the link 1) in entering the draw-head, but no movement of the cars will be sufficient to disengage the hook.

An eyebolt, E, is attached to the forward end of the hook B,for the attachment of a ring and cord or chain extending over a pulley at the car-roof, by which to elevate the front end of the hook B when the cars are to be uncoupled.

The eyebolt E acts as a stop to prevent the hook B from being raised higher than necessary, and in this .way the spring is preserved against undue tension.

The mouth of the draw-head is designed to be madesomewhat larger than usual, so that the link of the approaching car will always enter the same, and the cavity which receives the link is so proportioned in length and height that a common link, when inserted at one end only, will be held by the draw-head in a sufficiently horizontal position to adapt it to enter freely the draw-head of an approaching car and be automatically caught thereby in the manner before explained. I thus avoid all necessity of placing the hand or any part of the person between the cars, and provide simple and unfailing means whereby they are coupled automatically with a common link.

My invention is believed to combine in a superior degree the following advantages, namely: first, cheapness of construction, strength, durability, and freedom from liability to derangement; second, supporting the free end of a common link at such a height as to adapt it to enter the draw-head of an approachin g car automatically and without fail; third, adaptability in dimensions and proportions of the parts to couple with a common link, and consequently with a car-coupling of common form, so that the adoption of my improved coupling on some cars will not necessitate its use on others which are to be used in connection therewith. Myinvention is in this respect superior to any in which a link of greater than usual length is required, because B, spring 0, andeye E, the latter serving as such longer'link cannot be used in common a stop for the end of the "spring, and concouplings withoutdan gel of beingcrushed end- I structed and arranged to operate together, in Wise by the running together of the cars when 1 the manner and for the purposes herein specithe train is checked from the forward end. fied.

Having thus described my il'ivention the CHARLES D. CLINTON.

following is what I claim as new herein and Witnesses: desire to secure by Letters Patent: WM. READ,

The combination of the oblique-faced hook O. D. SMITH. 

